Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-11-29
A TEST CASE.
THE NORTH CAROLINA DRUMMEHs'
LrcENsE-TAX
Before the United States Circuit Court
Assaulted and Robbed on the
Highway other Notes.
Special telegram to tho pIspa.cA.l

RALEIcH, n. c., November 2S.-The
United States Circuit Court was opened
here this afternoon by Judge Bond. The
case OF A. w. Henderson against the
State was called, but went over until to-
morrow. This is known as the drum
mers' tax cases, as it involves the validity
of State lcensc-tax Of 800 annually
upon each commercial traveller. Hen
derson, who is with the house of Darby
4 Co., of Baltimore, was arrested 40
Edenton last July for refusing to take
out license to sell goods in this State.
He sued out a writ of hdboas corpus.
II is a very important matter, and deep
interest is felt in the result. No matter
which way it is decided by Bond an ap-
peal TO the United States Supreme Court is
certain. Very able counselare engaged. 1t
is said this evening that the case will pro-
baby be argued Wednesday. The
docket of the Circuit Court is hgnt.
The term will not be longer than two
weeks. Clerk Riddick says the criminal
docket will be disposed of this week and
the civil docket will be collected next
week. Judge Seymour arrived this eve
ming from Newberne.
At the EdentOn-Street Methodist
church, this city, yesterday, at the con-
clusion of the morning services, Il. i.
Gray, Esq, on behalf of the congrega-
ton, presented the retiring pastor, Rev.
W. C.. Norman, with IA gold watch and
chain, and Mrs. Norman with silver
service.
DR.. j. ]. Mott, of Statesville, is here.
He confirms the report that both Re-
publican State Executive Committees
will meet here together in harmonious
session on the 14th of December.
Saturday night rs Seth Broadwell,
prominent farmer of Wake county, was
on his way home from this city he was
set upon about four miles west OF here
by four negro men and five negro
women. He was struck on the head
with a stick and badly wounded. BE
was then ROBBED of twenty dollars. The
robbers cut open his coat Ia five or six
places, but failed to find large amount
of money on his person. As yet no ar
rests have been made, though some OF
the parties are known. Arrests will be
made tomorrow.
The Supreme Court did not this after
noon file any opinion In the G1ersch
case, which involves the question of
whether beer and wine are spirituous
liquors. 1t was thought certain that the
decision would be filed.
Great numbers of persons converted
during the revivalmeetings of Rev. Mr..
Pearson, the evangelist, were received
into various churches here Yesterday.
The meetings continue all this week.
The Supreme Court to-day began the
call of appeals from the Tenth judicial
district. The docket is an unusually
heavy one, containing over forty cases.
Judge Scheuck. of Greensboro, who
is so greatly interested IN the improve
ment of the battle-ground of Guilford
Courthouse, tells me that the entire bat
tle-feld Is now in his possession, fourteen
acres which were specially desired
having been acquired a few days since
The improvements are many. The old
royal road has been made plain again,
the fields cleared of briers and bramhlos,
gullies and washes filled up, and the
springs handsomely put IN order One
spring, named in honor of Mr.. George
". Childs. WHO gave 500 to the Battle
field Association, now flows through
marble basin and is cOveredby an ornate
summer-house. The town of Winston
will give 500 for the adornment OF
spring TO be known as the Winston
spring. Judge Schonck IS secunngmuch
new material III regard to the battle,
which shows that the militia were most
uniuStly maligDed incOnnectlon with the
fight.
The force of laborers on the Durham
Henderson railway is to be largely IN
creased this week, SO as to bring it up to
SIX hundred.
Contemplating has progressed rapidly
In the past ten dayd and most fields are
now bare. Yet now and then field
still SNOWY white can be seen.
The fine weather ended to-day with
rain, and there Is promise of bad weather
and of cold snap following the very
unreasonable warmth.
Yesterday the Methodist ministers
preached their last sermons OF the con
ference year in their respective churches.
Next Wednesday conference meets. The
people of Fay ettevilie have made prepare
tons for the reception Of three hundred
ministers there. No doubt the session
will be exceedingly pleasant in a social
way. 1t is the ffty-first session OF the
conference.
At st. Thomass Roman Catholic
church, at Wilmington, yesterday, Right
Rev. Bishop II. Z. Northrop dedicated
statue OF St. Thomas the Apostle with
much ceremony. The statue, imported
from Italy, is of exquisite workmanship.
The suit Of John 7. EdmOndson, a
member of the GoldsbOro' Rifles, against
the Western North Carolina railway for
500 for injuries received in the
derailment of a car filed with troops on
their way to the encampment at Ashe-
vile. in July, 1885, reSuItedina mistrlal
After being ont for five days the jury
could not agree. The trial was held at
kinston.
The Richmond and Danyille company
pushed the work of clearing the savanna
noa tunnel so rapidly and eifectually
that trains are now passing through It.
II was generally believed that 1t would
require two months work.
Durham is soon to have a bonded
warehouse on an extensive scale.
PETERSBURG NOTES.